Glass run channel structure



- .0. T.IBALFE 2,216,105

GLASS vRUN CHANNEL STRUCTURE Filed July 5, 1939 3 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR.

BY Go cgef Ba {fa ATTORNEYS.

Och 1940- G. "1: BALFE 2,216,105

I GLASS RUN CHANNEL STRUCTURE Filed July 6. 1959 s Sheets-Sheet 2- INVENTOR. 7T EALFE B" LFEUE'E ATTORNEYS j/lI/l KW Vwffi I+ Lu 5 7.

Oct. 1, 1940. G BALFE 2,216,105

GLASS RUN CHANNEL STRUCTURE Filed July 6, 1939 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 E g iU INVENT OR.

GED P55 71' 5am? drvuw 9 73M ATTORNEYS Patented Oct. 1, 1940 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE Application July 6, 192.9, Serial No. 283,120

- I 11 Claims.

My invention relates to an improved glass run guide such as used in closed automobile bodies to cushion and support the window pane for slidable movement. Such guide may be specifically of channel shape in cross section as shown in Figs. 1 to 7, inclusive, or of flat shape as shown-in Figs. 8 to 12, inclusive.

This application is a continuation in part of my application Serial No. 218,799, filed July 8, 1938, which'last identified application was a continuation of my application Serial No. 116,759 which was a division of my application Serial No. 58,276, filed January 9, 1936. In application Serial No. 58,276 I described the structure shown in the first four figures of the instant application together with novel apparatus for'manufacturing the same, and the structure shown-in such four figures was divided out of the said application Serial No. 58,276 to form application Serial No. 116,759.

An important object of this invention is to provide an improved glass runguide having an improved wire mesh insert and particularly to provide an improved insert'formed' of wire which will support and maintain the guide body at its proper shape and which will not interfere with the bending of the guide to any desired curvature in its application to a supporting framework and which will not during such bending distort the guide into an undesired shape.

An important feature of' the invention is that the glass run comprises a wire insert foundation which includes a pair of relatively heavy supporting wires extending longitudinally along opposite edges of the glass run strip and over which continuous relatively fine wire either circular in cross section as shown in Figs. 1 to 4, inclusive, orfiat as shown in Figs 5 to 12, inclusive, isspirally wound from one suporting wire to the other in a spiral extending from one end of the two supporting wires to the opposite end thereof and in such a manner as to form a relatively flexible and yieldable wire insert, yet one which possesses substantial strength and sturdiness.

Felt fabric or other suitable covering material is associated with the wire insert covering the same and fabricated therewith in such a manner that the covering material holds the mesh wire spirals against appreciable displacement longiwound. An important feature of this construction tudinally of the longitudinal wires preventing arises out of the fact that the wire strands cross one another at a point between the supporting wires to form a metallic mesh which rigid-ifies the structure at the same time permitting the required amount of flexibility.

The mesh forming wire may be circular in cross section being relatively thin or of fine diameter as shown in the first four figures of the drawings or may be relatively flat thin wire as shown in Figs. 5 to 12, inclusive, and particularly illustrated in Figs. 5 to 9, inclusive.

Preferably, a plurality of mesh forming wire strands are wrapped spirally about the two marginal supporting wires crossing each other therebetween as particularly illustrated in Figs. 1 and 5. However in Figs. 9 and 12 a single mesh wire formed strand is illustrated as wrapped about the longitudinal supporting wires to form the wire mesh of the metallic insert. The fiat mesh forming wire forms a particularly strong and sturdy construction.

-A further characteristic of the invention is that a reinforcing, stiffening, bead may be provided about one or both longitudinal margins of the guide, which bead may be formed of sheet metal folded over such margin gripping the same. Such bead is so secured in place as to have relative longitudinal movement with respect to the guide body to facilitate bending and flexing of the guide. The bead may be folded directly over the margin of the wire insert and be covered with covering material or the bead may serve the further purpose of a decorative finish bead and be crimped over the margin of the covered guide.

The invention has for another object the provision of a novel covering for the metal reinforcement which is yieldable and self-adjustable to the bending and distorting forces to which the window guide is subjected when assembled and in use.

A meritorious feature of the invention is the fact that the'covering is so associated with the mesh forming wire in the fabrication of the guide as to substantially cover the same while being effectively reinforced thereby. Furthermore, the interconnection between the mesh wire and cushion covering material is such that the mesh wire is positioned longitudinally 'of the supporting wires by the covering material. Such mesh wire is so positioned as to permit sufiicient longitudinal relative displacement of successive spirals thereof as to accommodate for the required bending and distortion of the guide;- Such permitted displacement however is not s'ufiicient to allow for undue bunching together or spreading apart of the mesh wire. Specifically, the covering material is retained upon the metallic reinforcement by an inherent adhesive quality of its composition.

Specifically, the invention may include a multi-ply covering including a layer of normally tacky material which lies against the metallic reinforcement and an outer covering of finish material which encloses the tacky material. The layer of tacky material is preferably composed of granulated or comminuted cork and rubber. This material is inherently tacky or adhesive and when applied under pressure to the opposite sides of the wire reinforcing mesh secures itself thereto by adhesive engagement through the interstices of the wire mesh. The outer finish covering or any other portions of the covering material may be secured to the layer of tacky composition by adhesive engagement therewith.

Other objects, advantages, and meritorious characteristics of my invention will more fully appear from the following specification, appended claims, and accompanying drawings. wherein:

Figure 1 illustrates a strip in the process of manufacture showing the various elements comprising its structure,

Fig. 2 is an enlarged view of the strip along line 22 of Fig. 1,

Fig. 3 is a cross-sectional view along line 33 in Fig. 1, and

Fig. 4 is a cross-sectional view along line 44 in Fig. 1,

Fig. 5 is an elevation of a fragment of my improved channel showing at the top a covering material unfolded to expose the wire insert and at the bottom a completely formed channel body,

Fig. 6 is a cross-sectional view taken on line 6--6 of Fig. 5,

Fig. 7 is a cross-sectional view taken on line 'II of Fig. 5,

Fig. 8 is a cross-sectional view through an embodiment of the construction shown in Fig. 5 wherein the guide, instead of being in channel form in cross section, is flat,

Fig. 9 is a modification of my invention wherein one wire strand is wrapped about the longitudinal supporting wires to form the wire mesh and showing at the bottom the completely formed flat guide and at the top the same guide with the covering material partly unfolded,

Fig. 10 is a cross-sectional View taken on line IO-IO of Fig. 9,

Fig. 11 is a perspective of a fragment of the channel such as shown in Fig. 10 but wherein a reinforcing and finishing bead is provided along one longitudinal margin over the covering material, and

Fig. 12 is an elevation of a fragment of a channel such as shown in Fig. 11 with the covering material partly unfolded but being a modification wherein the reinforcing bead is disposed underneath the covering material.

The strip for the window guide comprises a wire insert which forms the foundation or body that holds the covering and cushioning material to the desired shape. This wire insert is made up of a pair of spaced parallel longitudinal supporting wires I0 and a series of strands of relatively thin or fine wire I2 which strands are wound spirally about the supporting wires as shown in the upper portion of Fig. 1. Each strand I2 is continuous and as shown in Fig. 1 crosses an other forming diamond shaped meshes. In the embodiment of the invention illustrated in Figs. 1 to 4, inclusive, herein three of these wire strands are shown. This metallic insert is encased within covering material It which is wrapped thereabout being folded over the insert and adhesively secured in such folded position and compacted against the insert so that the folds are adhesively secured together through the wire mesh of the insert.

A covering material which I have found well suited for this work is one formed of two laminations of material. There is an outer lamination I6 of felt or any other suitable fabric or finish material and another lamination I8 which is of a composition material that is normally tacky and moisture resistant and provides cushioning characteristics.

Material which I have found suitable for the lamination I8 is a composition formed of granulated cork, rubber and suitable well-known fillers which are used in the rubber industry. This composition is moisture resistant. It possesses cushioningcharacteristics. This composition is secured to one face of the fabric or finish material I6 and this two-ply material constitutes what I term the covering I4. This covering is so folded over the wire insert that the composition ply is folded upon itself and compacted against the insert so as to extend therethrough embedding the wire insert within the cork and rubber layer. The folds of the material are secured in place by virtue of the normally tacky characteristic of this composition layer.

An important feature of employing a composition material having both cushioning and adhesive characteristics and folding the same upon itself about the metal insert is the fact that when the material is compactly folded about the wire mesh it yields to the presence of the wire mesh adhesively engage with that on. the other side and firmly retain this engagement regardless of the distortions to which the structure is subjected. The adhesive engagement of the folds of the tacky material between the strands of the wires I2 as well as the embedded condition of the wires I2 in the tacky material acts to hold the wire strands from undue movement in the com-. pleted structure while permitting sufiicient movement to accommodate for flexing of the guide. This provides a uniform metallic reinforcement throughout the stripping.

The wire I2 which is wound spirally about the heavy wires I0 would be free to spread upon the longitudinals to bunch up in one place or unduly separate in another place where it not for the fact that it is held against appreciable displacement longitudinally of the supporting wires by the covering material. Such bunching up or separation would be exceedingly undesirable as it would render the strip unduly rigid at one place or weaken it too much at another place. I have so associated the covering material with the spirally wound wire mesh that the fine wire is held, through being embedded within the'covering material, against appreciable displacement longitudinally of the strip while it is permitted a certain limited yielding displacement to render the strip readily and easily flexible to conform to curvatures in the window frame. Such spirally wound wire is interlocked with the covering material in such a manner that displacement which might result in unduly bunching up or separation of the fine wire is not possible.

One embodiment of my invention is shown in the completed channel-shaped window guide il- This head is formed of sheet metal and may be lustrated inthe lower portion of Fig. 1 and in Fig. 4. It is desirable to shape the window guide so that the relatively thick supporting wires 10 slightly overhang the channel as shown in Fig. 4. The section of the covering material wrapped around these supporting wires will yieldingly bear upon the opposite sides of the glass pane for which this guide is intended. 1 a

In the first four figures of the drawings the wire which formed the meshwas illustrated as circular in cross-section. .In Figs. 5, .6, and 7 this mesh forming wire is illustrated as being a thin flat wire. The longitudinally extending supporting wires are identified by the numeral ID as in the first four figures of the drawings but the spirally wound wire is identified by the numeral 29. Two strands are shown in Fig. 5 of this spirally wound flat wire. It is wr-appediabout the supporting wires'in much the same manner that the strands l2 illustrated in Fig. 1 .are wrapped about the supporting wires of the structure of such figure. The wire strands'cross each other between the supporting wires. Successive spirals are spaced apart so that. a mesh is formed with openings or spaces between successive spirals through which the cover material extends for adhesion and which, because of this wrapping facilitates flexing and bending of the completed guide. The covering materialtis indicated generally as 16 as it is in the structure of Fig. 1 and the same type of covering material is here shown in that a lamination I8 of relatively tacky ma terial may be provided to adhesively engage upon itself through the interstices of. the wire mesh.

The structure shownin Figs. 5 to '7, inclusive, is shaped to form'a guide whichis channel shaped in cross section. The relatively thin fiat wire forms a particularly strong and well reinforced guide structure.

In Fig. 8 the guide is illustratedas being flat in cross-section and would constitute one of a pair of guide elements adapted to engage the glass pane. These flat guides are in quite common use in connection with window openings having curved corners. The structure is similar to that shown in Figs. 5, 6 and '7 except that the inside is of narrow width and is'flat in cross section. The longitudinal reinforcement wires are indicated as I0, the covering material as 16. It is provided with a tacky lamination l8 and" the spiral wires which may be of the flatstructure shown in Fig. 5 are indicated as 20. A plurality of these fiatwires may be usedas illustrated in Fig.5.

In Figs. 9 and 10 the structure is similar to that of Fig. 8 except that the reinforcing longitudinal wires it have wrapped thereabout a single spiral strand 20. This spirally wound strand 20 is fiat.

as is each of the strands of Fig. 5. Covering material 2| is shown as wrapped thereabout. This covering material may be cloth having a relatively thick woven pile 22 and it is wrapped about the wire insert and adhesively secured together through the interstices thereof with the pile projecting on one side to engage the glass pane. Mohair is a suitable cloth for this use. It is understood, of course, that the covering material such as shown in the first eight figures of v the drawings might be here used. Furthermore, the covering material here shown might be used with the wire insert shown in Figs. 1 and-'5.

In Fig. 11 a modification is illustrated in that the guide shown in Fig. 10 is provided along one margin with a reinforcing metal bead 24, which metal bead also serves as a decorative finish bead.

a chromium finish sheet or any other suitable material and is crim-ped over the margin of the completed guide structure as shown in Fig. 11.

The engagement is such that relative movement between the bead and the body of the guide is permitted to facilitate flexing, otherwise the structured .this figure is that shown in Fig. 10. It is understood, of course thatsuch a metal finish bead might be provided upon the outer margin of eachside wall of a channel shaped guide such as is illustrated in Figs. .1 and 5. if such were desired.

In the modification shown in Fig. 12 there is provided a reinforcing head 26, but in this instance unlike theconstruction of Fig. 11 the bead 26 .is 'crimped about one margin of the insert before the covering material is applied thereto and the covering material 2| is applied thereover.

:This bead serves merely as a reinforcing and stiffening bead along the margin of the metal insert. The engagement of the bead about this mentlmay be by means of any suitable adhesive or rubber cement. The covering material may itself be impregnated upon the surface desired for adhesion. If desired a layer such as I8 shown in Fig.2 might be used. What I claim:

1. A glass run channel comprising a channel shaped wire insert having a supporting wire extending along the margin of each of its two side walls and having a plurality of wire strands wrapped-about said supporting wires and crossing each other between said two supporting wires forming a wire .mesh extending between the supporting wires and a strip of covering material folded upon itself about said insert and adhe- I sively secured together in'such folded relationship through the interstices of said wire insert.

2. A glass run channel comprising a channel shaped metal insert having a relatively thick supporting wire extending along the margin of each of the two side walls of the channel and having a plurality of continuous relatively thin wire' 'strands'each wrapped spirally about said supporting wires, said plurality of wire strands spirally wound so as to cross one another'at a point, between said supporting wires to form a wire .mesh extending between said supporting wires and constituting the bottom and side walls of the channel insert, and a strip of multi-ply covering material consisting ofa ply of finish 2 material and a ply of tacky composition material including granulated cork and rubber wrapped about the mesh foundation with the composition ply embedding the mesh and extending through the interstices thereof and the ply of finish material extending thereover as a covering therefor 3. A stripping comprising, in combination, a wire mesh foundation, a multi-ply covering for said wire mesh including layers of tacky material of corkand' rubber composition arranged on opposite s'ides'of said wire mesh and secured thereag'ainst by adhesive engagement through the interstices of the wire mesh, and a covering of fabric material extending over said layers of composition material and adhesively secured thereto by the tacky character of the composition material.

4. A glass run channel stripping comprising, in combination, a channel-shaped metal reinforcing insert including a pair of relatively thick supporting wires each arranged along the margin of one side wall of the channel and a plurality of continuous relatively thin wire strands wound spirally around said pair of supporting Wires, said plurality of wire strands crossing one another along substantially the median line of the stripping and bent to form a channel-shaped wire bottom and side walls of the channel strip, a strip of normally tacky material folded about the channel-shaped metal reinforcement and completely enclosing the same therewithin, a strip of finish material folded over said strip of tacky material and completely enclosing the same therewithin, the adhesive character of said strip of tacky material securing the folds of the same together through the interstices of the Wire mesh and securing the folds of said strip of finish material to the outside surface of the strip of tacky material.

5. A glass run channel stripping comprising, in combination, a channel shaped metal insert including a pair of relatively thick supporting wires extending in spaced parallel relationship and a plurality of continuous relatively thin wire strands wound spirally in spaced relationship around said pair of supporting wires, said plurality of wire strands crossing one another along substantially the median line of the stripping and being bent to form a channel-shaped wire mesh for reinforcing the stripping, a strip of yieldable normally tacky material folded about said channel-shaped metal insert and being secured in place by adhesive engagement with itself through the interstices of the channel-shaped wire mesh, said strip yielding to the presence of said wire strands and embedding the same within the surfaces of its folds, and a strip of finish material folded over said strip of tacky adhesive and being adhesively secured thereto by the adhesive character of the tacky strip.

6. A glass run guide comprising a wire insert having a pair of spaced apart supporting Wires extending along the two longitudinal margins of the guide and having relatively thin wire Wound about said two supporting wires in a spiral extending from one end of the two supporting Wires to the opposite end thereof and with the successive loops of the spiral spaced one from the other and without direct securement of the spirally wound wire to the supporting wires against displacement longitudinally thereof, and covering material folded over said wire insert covering said supporting wires and thin wire and having its opposed walls adhesively secured together through the spaces between successive spirals of the thin Wire holding the successive spirals of said wire in relatively spaced apart relationship and against appreciable relative displacement longitudinally of the supporting Wires while permitting limited displacement thereof.

'7. A glass run guide comprising, in combination, a pair of spaced apart supporting wires extending along the two longitudinal margins ofthe guide, relatively thin wire wound about said two supporting wires in a spiral extending from one end of the two supporting wires to the opposite end thereof and with the successive loops of the spiral spaced one from the other and without direct securement of thespirally wound wire 'to' the supporting wires against displacement longitudinally thereof, and covering cushioning material substantially covering said supporting wires and thin wire on opposite sides, of the guideand secured together through the spaces between successive spirals of the thin wire holding said thin wire against appreciable displacement longitudinally of the supporting Wires While permitting limited displacement thereof.

8. A glass run guide comprising, in combination, awire insert formed of a pair of spaced apart flexible supporting wires extending along the two longitudinal margins thereof and a relatively thin,.fiat, Wire wrapped spirally about said two supporting wires with successive spirals spaced from each other along said supporting wires and without direct securement of the spirals to the supporting wire and covering material extending over said wire insert secured together and through the spaces between successivespirals thereof and about said supporting wires between successive spirals holding said thin ,wire spirals apart along said supporting wires while permitting limited displacement of tending transversely angularly in opposite directions from said fold toward the other supporting wire and engaging the same at points spaced apart longitudinally of said supporting wire and on longitudinally opposite sides of said fold and covering cushioning material folded about said insert enclosing the same and adhesively secured together about said supporting wires between successive spirals.

10. The structure-described in claim 9 characterized in that each spiral is so engaged with the supporting wires as to permit limited relative movement therebetween longitudinally of the supporting wires and the covering material is flexible and while limiting such longitudinal movement permits it to a limited extent.

11. A glass. run guide comprising a metallic insert having a pair of supporting wires extending along the two longitudinal margins of the guide and having relatively thin wire strands a extending transversely between said supporting wires and arranged in a succession of spirals longitudinally of said supporting wires, each spiral being folded over and crimped about one supporting wire and extending transversely and angularly in oppositedirections from said fold to the other supporting wire andcrimped thereabout at points spaced apart longitudinally of said-wire and flexible cushioning covering material folded about said insert and adhesively secured together about and between said supporting wires between saidspirals holding said spirals yieldingly against substantial displacement longitudinally of said supporting wires, said spirals having limited permitted displacement longitudinally of said supporting wires.

GEORGE. T. BALFE. 

